. The reversing area used by customers to practise for their test has also been relaid with concrete to provide a perfect facility to progress successfully to test standard (due to finish summer 2015).
We have invested almost £1.2 million in our facilities since 2001, which demonstrates our commitment to YOU, the most important element of our business.
Having built up the company with his father, taking it over in 1983 when he was 31. Nothing he doesn’t know about training. Still just as passionate and hard working.
With 20 years’ experience with management of Tockwith Training. Works in conjunction with Mike and Laurie. Enthusiastic and proud of the company
Responsible for the day to day running of the company. Has 15 years’ experience as an instructor. Has immense knowledge of LGV Training, Fork Lift and newly legislated CPC. Dedicated to enabling Tockwith to provide quality in every area of the business.
Cathy moved from the 'South' where working as a Business Unit Co-ordinator at Pfizer she developed a professional approach to processing administration tasks. She will handle your booking with care and attention to ensure every aspect of your course is hassle free. Cathy is also a keen photographer.
Excellent at inspiring confidence in new drivers Jeff comes from a background of working within the MOD Leconfield facility providing driver training to the good men and women of the UK Armed Forces. Also, along with Bill he is a very keen golfer - whoever has the lowest handicap we are not quite sure!
. The company promised Steve, HGV training as well as a job after passing his test and did appear extremely professional. In reality this HGV training broker only provided a medical and theory tests. Steve was
and no job. The advice that comes from this programme is visit the training provider before you part with any money. Use a local reputable provider and avoid those who claim to be national providers as they don't exist.
Training we provide is focused and designed around YOU
- these will have been set up in the 1970's and 80's and now progressed to their 3rd generation of the family running the business (like me!). They will be trusted by local businesses to provide quality training and offer a good service for the amount of money being paid, quality varies with the price you pay at different companies and they have a vast wealth of knowledge gained over years of experience to help you pass your tests.
- these consist of one individual who will also be the owner of the company and sole trainer, they will normally have worked for someone like ourselves but have decided to set up their own business. They will maintain a small operation with just a single truck to keep their costs low and keep a very close eye on their operating costs. Training hours will be reduced slightly and as much time as possible is spent parked up for frequent rest breaks and discussion to reduce fuel comsumed. Normally they use an old truck which won't be a full sized articulated truck but instead a drawbar combination so that one vehicle can provide both C and C+E driver training. Facilities can be limited for reversing practice, access to an area to practice will be available but it will often be a transport yard without the correct road markings. Booking administration will depend on how capable/able/busy the instructor is, there might be a wait for your booking to progress to the training stage.
- these companies are normally based from offices in London or Essex and don't operate any trucks, they are simply a middleman, about 40% of the fee you will pay them they will keep and the rest will be paid to the driving school they book you with for training - normally a single instructor school like above or a company with a poor local image or website and are struggling to find enough bookings independently. As the rates paid to driving schools are poor well established companies like ourselves won't deal with them because due to our large investment in our facilities we can't provide the quality of training needed for the low rates they provid. I would like to name the companies that we know to be brokers but when we previously did this the owners of the Brokers would contact us daily to remove their name from this page - due to the damaging affect it has on their business.
If you would like to avoid using a broker - Just simply avoid any LGV Training Company that says they have national coverage as these are the brokers, they will often have generic company names such as involving key words like LGV and be based in London offices.
You would expect that only trained, professional, government approved instructors with years of driving experience would be able to become LGV and PCV driving instructors (car instructors have to ADI qualified). You would be wrong, any person that has held a truck or bus driving licence for three years or more can teach new LGV or PCV drivers. Indeed, you may pass your driving test on a lorry, wait three years, never drive a truck and then set up your very own truck driver training school. So, don't expect every driving school to provide an experienced competent instructor.
You must have an operators licence to run a transport business but driving schools don't need one! This means they are exempt from having a qualification in operating large vehicles called a Certificate of Professional Competence. Companies inscope of needing 'O' licence will need to have systems in place such as 6 weekly mechanical vehicle inspections, drivers hours records and many policies on transport related safety issues. Because driving schools are exempt, all that is required that the vehicle passes an MOT once every twelve months.
The only way to find out if the company is any good will be by going to see them for one short driving lesson, known as an assessment drive. This will give you the chance to see their premises and ensure they have a reversing area for practice. Ensure that the owner of the company is easily accessible should you need to talk to them - some companies have unadvertised head offices in another part of the country and the instructor will not help you contact them. By driving the vehicle you will be able to tell if it drives well or feels old and worn out and finally if the instructor seems skilled, knowledgeable and approachable.
